Directory: world air forces
Bell/AB412
AB206 JetRanger
POLICE AIR WING
5/4
3
trans
liaison
Mi-2 Hoplite 50
DHC-6 Twin Otter
Bell 212
police (stored)
police
UKRAINE
VOYENNO-VOZDUSHNYYE SILY
(MILITARY AIR FORCES)
The Soviet Union's collapse left Ukraine with one of
Europe's largest and strongest air forces, on paper at
least, as a large part of the USSR's air assets were
stationed in Ukraine. Paper strength and reality, how
ever, are often far apart. The Ukrainian air force's
strength appears to include large numbers of stored
aircraft - some of which are being sold to third world
countries - and serviceability and aircrew flying hours
are both reported as low. In March 2000, the defence
minister, Oleksandr Kuzmak, said that it will take three
phases and until 2015 to reform the country's armed
forces. The first phase will end in 2005, by which time
the air force will have lost another 10 to 12 brigades
and around 600 aircraft - probably leaving the air
force with Tu-22Ms, MiG-29s, Su-27s, Su-24s and
Su-25s. MiG-23s were retired in 2001, when the last
• of the country's strategic bombers were also broken
up. MiG-29s and SU-25s will be upgraded. The
Ukraine has committed to order 65 An-70 transports.
Ukraine ceased to be a nuclear power in 2001 when it
destroyed the last of its capability.
Type
TU-22M Backfire
Tu-22R Blinder
MiG-29 A/C/UB Fulcrum
Su-27/UB Flanker
Su-25 Frogfoot
SU-24M/MR/MP Fencer
Be-12 Mail
Su-17M/UM Fitter
Mi-6 Hook
II-22 Coot
An-12Cub
An-24 Coke
An-26 Curl
An-30 Clank
An-72 Coaler
II-76/78 Candid
Tu-134/UBL Crusty
Yak-40 Codling
An-2 Colt
Mil-8/17 Hip
L-39 Albatros
Vak-v MHBBi
An-70
No
50
26
225
70
65
230
14
55
20
m 21
13
28
2
26
100
2/3
6
50
110
450
230
65'
Role
bomber
recce
int/attack/trng
int/trng
attack
attack/recce/EW
MR/ASW
recce
trans/cmb sup
cmd pt
trans
trans
surv
trans
trans/tank-tran
VIP/trng
trans
trans/EW
trng
trans
AVIATSIYA VOYENNO MOSKOYO FLOTA
(NAVAL AIR ARM)
Ukraine has ceased declaring any naval fixed-wing
combat aircraft as part of its obligations to the CFE
treaty. It previously operated MiG-29s, Su-25s,
Tu-22Ms and Su-17s which appear to have been
transferred to the air force. Possibly only two or three
ships are aviation capable.
Type
Ka-27/29 Helix
Ka-25 Hormone
Mi-14PL Haze
An-12 Cub
An-26 Curl
Mi-8 Hip
No
12/4
18
5
1
1
8
Role
ASW/assault
ASW
ASW
trans
trans
trans
UKRAINIAN GROUND FORCES
Ukraine's army aviation assets include large numbers
of air assault helicopters, Mi-24 Hinds and Mi-8 Hips.
Many are unused and in storage, as are some of its
other three helicopter types. Some reports suggest
the entire fleet of Mi-2s is non-operational.
Type No Role
Mi-24 Hind 280 attack/recce/EW
Mi-8 Hip 240 trans/cmd pt/EW
Mi-6 Hook 40 trans/cmd pt
Mi-26 Halo 25 trans
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AIR FORCE
AND AIR DEFENCE
The UAEAF is funded by the seven emirates - Abu
Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah,
Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain - which form the UAE.
Combat aircraft, trainers and transports are controlled
jointly. Three of the states only have aircraft operated
by royal flights. The largest procurement decision has
been the selection of a multirole fighter. The F-16
Block 60 was selected in May 1998, beating off com
petition from the Eurofighter and Rafale. Subsequent
progress was slow, not least because of issues relat
ing to the release of software associated with the EW
suite and other issues. A contract was finally signed in
March 2000. The 80 aircraft will be delivered between
2004-07, and will be equipped with active array radar,
an internal IR sensor and EW system as well as a
32,000lb-thrust General Electric engine. The aircraft
will be armed with the AMRAAM and the UAE's BAE-
developed PGM family. Dassault did not lose out
entirely, as the UAE also ordered 30 Mirage 2000-9s
and committed to upgrade its 33 Mirage 2000s. The
2000-9 has both an air-to-air and air-to-surface capa
bility, and will be equipped with Matra BAe Dynamics
Mica active radar guided medium-range AAMs and
ASRAAM short-range IR guided AAMs. Deliveries
begin in October 2002 and extend to February 2004;
the upgraded aircraft will be handed over between
August 2002 and February 2006. As part of the deal
Boeing is talking to the UAE about 767 tanker trans
ports and plans to offer the 737AEW&C aircraft.
A further buy of BAe Hawks for light attack duties
looked sunk by a German offer of used Alpha Jets,
but the UAE appears to have reconsidered its commit
ment to the used aircraft. The first of seven AS15TT-
armed Panther helicopters was delivered in late 1999,
with the remainder arriving in 2000. Nine Panthers are
also on order for army support duties. The UAE is to
upgrade its Apaches to AH-64D standard and order
extra machines to increase the size of its squadrons.
A deal should be concluded in late 2002-03 after EW,
communications and other equipment have been
selected. In November 1999, 14 AS350B Ecureuil
helicopters were ordered for pilot training. Another 10
Pumas are to be ordered from Eurocopter Romania,
and in-service machines will be upgraded with the
Makila engine and a glass cockpit. The helicopters
have already received a South African self-defence
system. The UAE's long-standing MPA requirement
was settled in March 2001 when the C295 equipped
with the EADS Casa FITS maritime mission system
was selected. A contract for four aircraft should be
signed in early 2002. The UAEAF is a partner with
EADS in the Mako advanced trainer/light strike air
craft, although it has not yet committed to an order.
ABU DHABI
Type
F-16C/D Block 60
Miraqe 2000E/R/D
AH-64A Apache
AS532UC/SC Cougar.
CN235M/MPA
C-130H Hercules
BO105CBS
PC-7 Turbo Trainer
AS350B Ecureuil
BAe 146-100
747SP
No
80'
22/5/6+
30
8/2
7/4"
4
4
24
14
1
1
Role
int/attack
int/att/recce/trnq
anti-tank
trans/ASW
trans/MR
trans
trans
trng
trng
royal fit
royal fit
AS332L Super Puma
DUBAI
MB326KD/LD
C-130H-30/L-100-30
Shorts 330UUT
Bell 212
AB412
BO105CBS
Bell 206L LonaRanqer
MB339A
Bell 407
Gulfstream ll/IV
AS365N Dauphin
RAS AL KHAIMAH
MB326KD/LD
Citation I
SHARJAH
MB326KD/LD
Bell 206B JetRanger
UMM AL QAIWAN
MB326KD/LD
t to be upgraded
2
3/2
2
1
2
6
3
1
4
1
2
1
3/2
1
3/2
3
3/2
royal fit
COIN/trnq
trans
trans
trans/roval fit
trans
comms/police
comms
trng
royal fit
royal fit
C
royal flt/comms
C
comms
C
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The UK's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in July
1998 cut back on numbers in all forces, but it did
promise all three services new equipment, and set in
place a series of initiatives to meet changes in the
world order head-on. It also placed much emphasis
on joint operations. Some tri-service elements were
already in place - a combined Defence Helicopter
Flying School (DHFS) was opened in 1997 for at least
basic training of rotary-wing pilots in the Army Air
Corps (AAC), RN and RAF. Other joint efforts include
a Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Joint Force Harrier
combines RAF Harriers and RN Sea Harriers in a sin
gle task force inside a larger maritime command, and
Joint Helicopter Command brings together the three
services' support and armed helicopters.
Major RAF procurement programmes are centred
on its intended buy of 232 Eurofighters, the first of
which is to be delivered in mid-2002, with service
entry planned for 2003-04 to replace Tornado F3s in
the air defence role and Jaguar ground attack aircraft.
The Jaguar fleet has received a series of incremental
updates, mainly because of its unstinting service in
global trouble spots since 1990 These programmes,
which have overhauled its cockpit, upgraded its
engines and added new weapons. An ASTOR air
borne stand-off radar selection was made in 1999
with Raytheon supplying the five systems based on
the Global Express airframe. First deliveries are
scheduled for 2005.
In August 1998 Lockheed Martin delivered the first
of 25 C-130J Hercules to Boscombe Down, two years
behind schedule. The first squadron C-130J was
handed over on 23 November 1999. To supplement
the C-130Js, C-17s have been leased with all four
delivered in 2001. The lease runs for seven years with
two one year options to tide the RAF over until the
entry into service of the first of 25 A400Ms ordered is
delivered. The RAF also requires new tanker trans
ports and it is expected to need 20 to 30 A330/767-
sized aircraft. Following a series of team consolida
tions only two competitors, AirTanker and the Tanker
www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 NOVEMBER - 3 DECEM BER 2001 73